Halloween safety during the pandemic, tips from Kaiser Permanente

Celebrating Halloween safely

It’s the time of year families look forward to: pumpkins, costumes, and Halloween candy.

But with the virus that causes COVID-19 still spreading throughout much of the country and here in the Bay Area, this year’s Halloween celebrations will look and feel different. Kaiser Permanente physicians, following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, advise families to find new and innovative ways to celebrate the holiday safely.

“This pandemic has caused disruption in our everyday lives, and now it’s happened again with Halloween,” said Doug Balster, MD, PhD, a pediatric specialist with Kaiser Permanente in Redwood City. “With parenting comes a responsibility to take extra precautions to protect our children’s health. There are several ways to help us be more creative in the way we celebrate Halloween this year.”

• Kaiser Permanente says find creative ways to make sure children stay safe, have fun and still get to enjoy the holiday. Here are some tips to keep you and your little ones safe this year. Have a scavenger hunt, trick-or-treat style, in your home. Search for hidden treats in or around your home with members of your household.
• Play “Halloween Bingo” by giving your children a list of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance.
• Host a virtual Halloween costume contest.
• Have a Halloween movie night with your family at home.
• Carve or decorate pumpkins with members of your household, neighbors, and friends at a safe distance, while outside, and then display your pumpkins or hold a contest.
• Spruce up your house, apartment, or living space with Halloween-themed decorations.

If you’re still planning on having your children trick-or-treat, Balster stresses the importance of always wearing protective masks and gloves. According to the CDC, a costume mask for Halloween is not a safe substitute for a cloth mask. To better protect your health, consider using a Halloween-themed protective cloth mask instead. And don’t wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe.

Balster also encourages parents to attend Halloween activities in a known area or familiar location, such as a church or a friend’s house, to limit their children’s exposure to the coronavirus. He advises against going door to door to trick-or-treat in the neighborhood. Keep your group small and maintain appropriate physical distance from those outside your home. Once home, Balster urges everyone to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, then lay out all collected wrapped candy on a clean counter or kitchen table to let it “air out” for a few hours before eating it.

Also, health department guidelines may vary by location, so it’s important to check with your local public health department for additional guidance on safely celebrating Halloween this year.

“It’s best to not participate in large-scale traditional trick-or-treat activities this year, as it can be difficult to maintain proper physical distancing at front doors and on crowded sidewalks,” Balster said. “The bottom line is the coronavirus is still out there, and we cannot let our guard down. By taking simple precautions, we can ensure that our children will still enjoy the holiday in a way that is safer for everyone involved.”